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Takei marries boyfriend in LA

15/09/2008

The former Star Trek actor George Takei has married his long-term boyfriend in Los Angeles.

The 71-year-old married his business manager Brad Altman, 54, on Sunday in front of nearly 200 people at the Japanese National Museum.

The pair have been together for more than 21 years and wrote their own vows for the ceremony.

Takei played Mr Sulu in early series of the iconic sci-fi television show Star Trek.

Speaking to the Associated Press agency before the ceremony Takei said his marriage was a step towards making America "more equal".

"We have a relationship that's been stronger and longer-lived than some of our straight friends, and yet we were not equal," he said.

"What this does is give us that dignity; [it's] being part of the American system and being whole. We're making the American system whole as well, as America is becoming more equal."

The marriage comes three months after the state of California lifted a ban on same-sex weddings.